Oak Crest Academy has adopted the William & Mary Gifted Curriculum as the heart of our curriculum for core subjects. In addition to William & Mary Gifted Curriculum, we utilize other gifted curriculum and units to create a more customized approach.
The development of exemplary curriculum frameworks and units of study for classroom use with high ability learners has been an emphasis at the Center for Gifted Education since its inception. Center materials are grounded in the Integrated Curriculum Model (VanTassel-Baska, 1986, 1995, 2002), which is designed to respond to gifted learners’ characteristics of precocity, intensity, and complexity through its three dimensions of advanced content, higher level processes and product development, and interdisciplinary concepts, issues, and themes. The Integrated Curriculum Model (ICM) is comprised of three interrelated dimensions.
The ICM has been translated into a curricular framework and set of teaching units in the areas of language arts, social studies, and science.
ICM Features
| Overarching Concepts | Advanced Content | Process-Product |
| Change | In-depth | Elements of Reasoning |
| Systems | Advanced Reading | Research |
| Patterns | Primary Sources | Problem-based Learning |
| Cause and Effect | Advanced Skills | Inquiry Skills |
VanTassel-Baska, J. (2003). Content-based curriculum for high-ability learners: An introduction. In J. VanTassel-Baska & C. A. Little (Eds.), Content-based curriculum for high-ability learners (pp. 1-23). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.
Engage your brain–nothing activates as many areas of the brain as music. Students unleash their creativity and improve academic power and physical coordination while learning and using music basics such as reading notes, identifying note locations, and playing chords on the piano and guitar.
The goals of the Language Arts units are to develop students’ skills in literary analysis and interpretation, persuasive writing, linguistic competency, and oral communication, as well as to strengthen students’ reasoning skills and understanding of the concept of change. The units engage students in exploring carefully selected, challenging works of literature from various times, cultures, and genres, and they encourage students to reflect on their readings through writing and discussion. The units also provide numerous opportunities for students to explore interdisciplinary connections to the language arts and to conduct research around issues relevant to their own lives.
Consistent with the focus on gifted and talented education, at Oak Crest Academy mathematics class offers a differentiated curriculum created to meet the specific needs of each student. Initially, Montessori math materials are used to introduce basic concepts of arithmetic. In the early stages of math education, we encourage repetition and accuracy. When the child is observed to be ready to move to new concepts, and depending on the individual and collective work of the classroom, the child is either flexibly grouped with others working at their pace on a specific topic, or assigned independent and more advanced work. Enhancing the breadth and depth of mathematical thinking is encouraged through the provision of opportunities to test concepts in real-world contexts that require higher order thinking skills and allow for multiple solutions to problems. We offer small group interactions and modified lessons based on the needs and interests of our students. At Oak Crest Academy, we do not simply provide students with more of the same work, but offer meaningful work that honors the talents of each individual.
The science curriculum units developed by the Center for Gifted Education contain simulations of real-world problems that face today’s society. The units are geared toward different grade-level clusters, yet can be adapted for use at all levels K–8. The goals of each unit are to allow students to analyze several real-world problems, understand the concept of systems, and design and conduct scientific experiments. These units also allow students to explore various scientific topics and identify meaningful scientific problems for investigation. Through these units, students experience the work of real science in applying data-handling skills, analyzing information, evaluating results, and learning to communicate their understanding to others.
Physical education prepares children to be physically and mentally active, fit and healthy…for life. Here are some of the many benefits children receive from our PE program:
